Here are your Morning Puck Headlines: A glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media.
• In the past 12 months, the Chicago Blackhawks didn't make the playoffs, fired a coach, spent $56.8 million for Brian Campbell and $22.5 million for backup goalie Cristobal Huet. The only thing they've won is Patrick Kane's Calder Trophy and a serious case of the back-pats for recapturing the hearts of Chicago fans after old man Wirtz kicked. Latest example: The release of the commemorative book "One Goal: Chicago's Resurgent Blackhawks." Senior Vice President of Business Operations Jay Blunk said: "One Goal captures the spirit of one of the greatest comebacks in modern sports history." Commit to the Hyperbole! [Blackhawks]
• Los Angeles Kings GM Dean Lombardi believes the paltry three-game suspension for John Zeiler is excessive, and adds this candid observation: "Every good army needs a couple of criminals." [Inside the Kings]
• Claude Lemieux signs a tryout contract with the San Jose Sharks, and will report to the Sharks' AHL affiliate in Worcester. So many fans have e-mailed us asking, "Why?" Well, one expects it's due to his friendship with GM Doug Wilson. But maybe the Sharks want to really, really up the ante for their expected showdown for the conference title with the Detroit Red Wings. [Sharks]
• Former Tampa Bay Lightning associate coach Mike Sullivan has returned to the Tampa bench in the same capacity for interim coach Rick Tocchet. Emphasis on the "interim." [Bolts Report]
• Energizer: Your official battery of the NHL. At least in Canada. Your move, Duracell! [NHL]
• Today's ridiculous stretch for a lead paragraph premise award goes to Robert Tychkowski of the Edmonton Sun: "Every time the Oilers score at home this season, and it hasn't been very often, a Kid Rock song blares from the Rexall speakers - a tie in, perhaps, to the offence they were expecting from the Kid Line." Uh, really? Obviously, when the Devils used to play Gary Glitter, it was in honor of the convicted pedophiles on the team. [Sun]
• The New Jersey Devils have won four in a row, and injured players Bobby Holik, Brian Rolston and Andy Greene are all skating again. Now, if they can get three good periods out of either of their goalies, they'll be golden. [Fire & Ice]
• The good, the bad and the mediocre for the Buffalo Sabres this season. Guess where Thomas Vanek, Tim Connolly and team defense are placed. [Buffalo News]
• Rory Bolden of The Hockey News celebrates some of hockey's lesser-known but fun-to-watch players. For the huge Dan Girardi, Craig Anderson and Jason Chimera fans among us. That fan club could hold its meetings in a kitchen pantry. [THN]
• The Red Skate has witnessed the Washington Capitals' many injuries this season and recalls another team from about 10 years ago suffering through the same thing. [The Red Skate]
• Real conversation-starter from Stu Hackel of the New York Times: Why the instigator should stay. More on this later. [Slap Shot]
• A look at the absolute disaster of a season for Ottawa Senators goalie Martin Gerber. [Sun Media]
• A Leafs bloggers gets schmaltzy over yesterday's trade. "You know, I've never been good at saying goodbye. I'm an emotional cat, I get attached easily. Carlo Colaiacovo, Alex Steen, and me, we had big plans together. Big plans. It's a shame they'll never come to light." [Sports and the City]
• Fabulous look at the "proportional" goalie equipment changes in the NHL. [SENShobo]
• Finally, YouTube gold: A ProStars cereal commercial!
